Roots Archives News Dispatch

“If you would make an attempt at telling the story in some format of Jamaican music in its initial stage, you wouldn't pass without mentioning a place called Randy's; founded by a local entrepreneur named Vincent Chin, Randy's was a studio, a distribution outfit and a popular record store situated at North Parade in Kingston, simply THE center of musical creativity in the music's most vital period from the late sixties to the mid seventies. It was here Lee Perry recorded the famous 'Soul Rebe”

“Singers come and singers go, this is part of the nature of the business but it is a great shame that so many got out of the business with only a tiny bit of their potential fulfilled behind the microphone. The sixties and seventies was shock-full of talents down in Jamaica. Ever heard the name Barrington Spence? Yet another one who never got his 'fair' share of the pie. Some dismissed him as a cheap Ken Boothe soundalike when he rose to prominence in the mid seventies with a string of hit single”

“From Treasure Isle To NYC I used to hang around at Treasure Isle with Prince Buster. Although I used to listen to plenty of Studio One, I used to go anywhere that Coxsone used to go; you had King Stitt and Count Matchuki. I grow up on Studio One and Treasure Isle. What year was this? It had to be 64/65, I went to America in 1967. We know about the tune that you done with Prince Buster. There was two, one was called While I Was Walking. How old were you when you voiced that tune? Im not”

“Rarely do we see any extensive features on instrumentalists in reggae music these days. There are so many unsung, exceptional talents from the fifties, sixties and seventies that still awaits any real recognition and appreciation for their efforts in those days. As it tends to be, they're just 'names' on the album covers. But what is their history, where did they start it all and what happened during the heyday of the music? What was their experience looking back on it? There's a bunch of great”

“Going into the legendary On-U studios is like a lesson in musical history for those that love UK and Jamaican roots reggae. I was welcomed at the door by Adrian, and ushered into a completely chaotic, yet calm and friendly atmosphere, with a lot of people getting on with their work in the studio. A large portrait of King Tubby in crisp white shirt, perfectly pressed suit trousers with a typically serious, dignified expression takes pride of place on the wall as an obvious sign of respect. Shrine”

“Culture's ALBERT WALKER INTERVIEW BY JIM DOOLEY FEBRUARY 7, 1997 Observant fans will know there is more to Culture than frontman Joseph Hill. In fact, it was Albert Walker's idea to form the group some 21 years ago. In this interview Albert updates what is happening in the Culture camp as well as giving us the early scoop on his solo project. I spoke with Albert, who was in Orlando, over the telephone (please Bell, go easy on me) as Culture were in the middle of a mini-tour of Florida”